Time recorder

ABSTRACT

A time recorder for recording elapsed time by stamping on a card the starting time and the termination time. The time stamp is provided with a locking bar to prevent movement of most of the time wheels except when a pawl engages a ratchet, a mechanism being provided to release the locking bar at that time and returning it to locking position after the ratchet has moved a wheel.

United States Patent 1 91 1111 3,890,624 Danke June 17, 1975 [54] TIMERECORDER 908.971 1/1909 Dey 346/84 X 1,262,703 4/1918 Ross 346/91 X {75]Inventor! audmph Banker Petersham 1,469,988 10/1923 Bryce et al .1346/145 ass.

[ Assigneei simplex Time Recorder p y Primary ExuminerJoseph W. HartaryGardner Mass- Attorney Agent, or FirmNorman S. Blodgett; Gerry 221Filed: Jan. 24, 1974 A Bbdgefl [21] Appl. No.: 436,148

Related US. Application Data [57] ABSTRACT [62] Division of Ser No.236,358 March 20, I972, Pat A time recorder for recording elapsed timeby stamp- Nor 3.800301. 1 ing on a card the starting time and thetermination time. The time stamp is provided with a locking bar to [52]US. Cl. .1 346/91 prevent movement of most of the time wheels except{51] int. Cl G07C 1/06 when a pawl engages a ratchet, a mechanism beingField of Search 145 provided to release the locking bar at that time andreturning it to locking position after the ratchet has [56] ReferencesCited mnved a wheel.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 7 487,433 12/1892 Stahiberg 346/9] 8 l DmwmgPATENTEUJUN 17 I975 iiii ET FIG.2 4m

FIG.3 l2

PATENTEDJUN17 1975 8 SO 6 24 TIME RECORDER This is a division, ofapplication Ser. No. 236,358 filed Mar. 20, 1972, now U.S. Pat. No.3,800,30l.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There are many situations in the businessworld where it is desirable to record both a beginning time and afinishing time for an event for eventual conversion to a figureindicative of elapsed time. Such a situation exists in the case of thetiming of long distance telephone calls. For this purpose, the telephoneoperator is provided with a time recorder having a slot into which sheinserts a card for each long distance telephone call made. She insertsthe card and presses an actuator so that the starting time is printed onthe card. After the telephone call is over, she again inserts the samecard and presses the same handle to record the time again. A timeinterval is shown, this often being accomplished on a dial which isprinted on the card. Since the operator has limited space on herconsole, it is desirable that this time recorder be quite thin and thatit be adapted for flush mounting. In addition, modern business methodshave led to optical scanning of such cards for the purpose of computingbills. In the past, time recorders have suffered from a number ofdisabilities that prevent this type of operation from being entirelysuccessful. For one thing, the limited space available in thin timerecorders has resulted in a printed character that is not clear anddistinct. Furthermore, under certain conditions, the time printingwheels, particularly those which are faster moving (such as the onetenthof a minute wheel) often rotate to positions between characters, so thatno character is printed, and the optical scanner is unable to find acharacter to record. Attempts to move such a wheel incrementally toassure that one character or another is properly centered at the momentof printing has not only resulted in gain and loss of time in the totalrecording of the time stamp, but also has resulted in worn pawls andratchets for accomplishing this purpose. These and other difficultiesexpperienced with the prior art devices have been obviated in a novelmanner by the present invention.

It is, therefore, an outstanding object of the invention to provide atime recorder which, although small in size, is capable of giving aclear printed character.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a time recorder inwhich the fastest moving time wheel is driven continuously to avoid theuse of pawl and ratchets, but which, nevertheless, centers eachcharacter adequately.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a timerecorder capable of giving a printed image particularly adaptable tooptical scanning.

It is another object of the instant invention to provide a time recorderin which one of the time stamp wheels is continuously driven, in which,at the time of printing, the nearest character is brought into apredetermined line, and in which, after printing, is returned to theposition at which it would have resided if printing had not taken place.

A still further object of the invention is the provision ofa timerecorder having time print wheels operated by pawls, in which the wheelsare securely locked against movement except at the moment when a pawlengages a wheel, and in which the unlocking mechanism is not capable ofaccidentally moving into a condition where all of the wheels remainunlocked.

It is a further object ofthe invention to provide a time stamp of thepawl-and-ratchet type which is provided with a locking means which isvery unlikely to accidentally catch in unlocked condition.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a time recorderwhose elements are readily accessible for inspection and repair.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a time recorder ofsimple and rugged construction which is capable of a long life of usefulservice with a minimum of maintenance.

With these and other objects in view, as will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art, the invention resides in the combination of partsset forth in the specification and covered by the claims appendedhereto.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In general, the invention consists of a timerecorder having a housing with a slot into which a time card can beinserted, having a time stamp located in the housing at one side of theplane of the slot, and having an inking ribbon lying adjacent the timestamp. A striking hammer is located on the other side of the plane ofthe slot. Means is provided associated with the hammer to store energyand release it suddenly to move the hammer toward a card lying in theslot and driving it against the ribbon and the time stamp.

More specifically, the time stamp is provided with means for driving itsfastest moving wheel continuously and yet providing for lining up acharacter when the encrgy is suddenly released and returning the wheelto its original position before that time. The time stamp is providedwith a locking bar to prevent movement of most of the time wheels exceptwhen a pawl engages a ratchet, the mechanism being provided to releasethe locking bar at that time and returning it to locking position afterthe ratchet has moved a wheel.

The housing is built in two parts that are hingedly related for readyaccess to the interior. A slot is provided with two portions that lie instaggered relationship to permit successive stamping of the card atdifferent positions thereon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The character of the invention,however, may be best understood by reference to one of its structuralforms, as illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a perspective view of a time recorder embodying the principlesof the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the recorder,

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the time recorder,

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the time recorder with a cover removed,

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a portion of the recorder,

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the portion of the recorder,

FIG. 7 is an end view of the portion of the recorder taken on the lineVIIVII of FIG. 6,

FIG. 8 is a horizontal sectional view of the invention taken on the lineVIII-VIII of FIG. 6,

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of another portion of the recorder,

FIG. 10 is another side elevational view of a portion of the recorder,

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the invention taken on the line XIX| ofFIG. 10,

FIG. 12 is an elevational view of a portion of the recorder.

FIGS. l3, l4, and 15 are horizontal views of the por tion of therecorder shown in FIG. 12 illustrating the method of operation.

FIG. 16 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the recorder takenon the line X\/IXVI of FIG. 9, and

FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view of the elements shown in FIG.16.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring first to FIG. I,wherein are best shown the general features of the invention. the timerecorder, indicated generally by the reference numeral 10, is shown inoperative position on the deck ll of a telephone operators console. Asheet metal cover 12 covers most of the mechanism, but an entranceabutment 13 extends through the cover and is provided in its upper partwith two slots 14 and 15 into which a time card can be inserted. Anoperating PRINT handle 16 is pivotally attached to the abutment 13 bymeans of a hinge pin 17 and normally rests against a stop pin 18extending from the upper part of the abutment 13. The cover 12 isprovided with an aperture 19 for a purpose to be explained more fullyhereinafterv Between the slots 14 and 15 extends a divider wall 21, andthe slots 15 and 14 are provided with the indicia IN" and OUT".respectively. The cover 12 is provided with a window 22 through whichcan be seen time elements forming part of the mechanism.

It should be noted that the surfaces of the slots 14 and are slantedtoward the divider wall 2] and that they are non-coextensive by asubstantial amount in such a way that a time card inserted in one slotis dis placed by that substantial amount from a time card placed in theother slot.

In FIG. 2 it can be seen that the underside ofthe deck 1] is providedwith a box-like sheet metal enclosure 23 into which a portion of thetime recorder extends. In this view, it can be seen that the undersideof the handle I6 is provided with a plastic pad 24 which engages the topend of a vertical plunger 25 which is vertically slidable relative tothe entrance abutment 13.

As is evident in FIG. 3, the plunger 25 is spaced forwardly of theentrance abutment 13 by a substantial amount. It can be seen that thestop pin 18 engages a small notch 26 formed on the upper edge of one ofthe legs of the handle 16.

In FIG. 4 and subsequent figures of the drawings, the cover 12, the deck11, and the enclosure 23 are all removed. In FIG. 4 the non-coextensiverelationship of the slots 14 and is very clearly shown. The substantialdistance by which they are non-coextensive is indicated by the referencecharacter a and, ultimately. this results in the time being printed onthe time card along different spaced lines when the card is firstinserted in the slot 15 and then inserted in the slot 14.

Generally speaking, the time recorder consists of a frame 27 dividedinto two portions, a time portion 28 and a stamp portion 29, theportions being hinged for vertical swinging motion about one end withthe pivot being provided by a vertical shaft 31. On the upper surface ofthe time portion 28 is an indicator 32 which is keyed to a shaft 33 andis divided into a dark portion (preferably colored red) and a lightportion (preferably colored white). these portions appearing through theaperture 19 of the cover 12 on occasion. A suitable stop pin 34 engagesone side of the indicator on occasion. Extending from the top of thetime portion 28 is a shaft 35 to which is keyed a gear 36. This gearengages another gear 37 mounting on a protruding end of a vertical shaft38 which is parallel to and spaced from the shaft 35. Also keyed to theshaft 38 but at a different vertical level from the gear 37 is a smallgear 39. This gear is connected by a timing belt 41 which also extendsaround a gear 42 mounted in the frame 27 and adapted to drive a seriesof time clock wheels 43 which are located so that they can be seenthrough the window I2 (see FIG. 1).

FIG. 5 shows a side view of the stamp portion 29 with the time portion28 removed. The plunger 25 is shown as being slidably mounted forvertical movement in bearings 44 and 45 carried in top and bottom plates46 and 47, respectively of the frame. A coil spring 48 holds the plunger25 in normally upwardly-biased condition and only by pressing downwardlyon the handle I6 is it moved vertically downwardly. A lever 49 isswingably mounted on a pivot pin 51 carried on an extension 52 of thebottom plate 47. One end of the lever 49 is pivotally connected to thelower end of the plunger 25 by a hinge pin 53, while the other end isconnected by a hinge pin 54 to a vertical bar 55. The upper end of thebar 55 is pivotally connected by a pin 56 to an extension of a plate 57rotatably mounted on a horizontal shaft 58 mounted in the frame 27.Swingably carried on the plate 57 is a pawl 59 which is resilientlyurged inwardly toward the shaft 58 by a spring 61. The pawl is thusurged into contact with a row of ratchet teeth 62 formed on the outerperiphery of a rotatable element 63 rotatably mounted on the shaft 58independently of the movement of the plate 57. A pair of parallel arms64 and 65 are pivotally mounted at one end on the shaft 31 and at theother end secured to a hammer plate 66. Another pair of arms 67 and 68are also pivotally mounted on the shaft 31 but, of course, spacedinwardly from the arms 64 and 65. The ends of the arms 67 and 68 notpivoted on the shaft 31 are joined by a bar 69. Pressing against thisbar is a U- shaped spring 71, the legs of which are wrapped around theshaft 31 and secured thereto to act as a torsion spring. A leaf spring72, which is of a generally U- shaped configuration when viewed fromabove, has one leg welded to the plate 66 and the other end free butoverlying the bight of the spring 71 and resting against the bar 69. Thelegs 67 and 68 rest on an annular row 72 of cams which are integral withthe element 63 rotatably mounted on the shaft 59, that is to say, thesecams are integral and move with the ratchet teeth 62.

Mounted at the forward part of the stamp portion 29 of the frame is alatching bar 73 which serves to hold together the free ends of thehinged time portion 28 and stamp portion 29. The upper part of the plate57 is provided with a notch 74 within which lies the tapered lower endof a finger 75. This finger is bent around through an opening 76 in aback wall of the stamp portion 29 and will be described more fullyhereinafter. In this view can be seen an electric motor 77 hangingdownwardly from the time portion 28 of the recorder as well as thetiming belt 41 and the gear 42.

FIG. 6 shows the inner side of the stamp portion 29. Only a smallportion of the time portion 28 is shown along with the hinge shaft 31.This view shows how the ends of the spring 71 extend through suitableapertures in a back wall of the frame and engage the shaft 78. This viewshows how the finger 75 protrudes through the opening 76 and extendsalong the inner surface of the frame. It is provided with slots whichride along pins 79 and 81 so that it is capable of horizontal slidingmovement. The finger 75 is, therefore, connected to an elongated bar 82and, on this bar is slidably mounted another bar 83 which is similarlyprovided with an elongated slot slidable on the pin 81 at one end and atits other end it is connected by a spring 84 to a pin extending from thefront of the bar 82 and slidable in a suitable slot in the bar 83. Inother words, the bar 83 not only slides horizontally with the bar 82 butalso is capable of independent sliding against the tension of the spring84. Finally, from the lower end of the bar 83 extends a finger 85 whosepurpose will be explained more fully hereinafter. Mounted in the stampportion 29 is a vertical shaft 86 around which is wound a printingribbon 87. The other end of the ribbon 87 is wound around a shaft 88which is also vertically mounted in the stamp portion 29 at the forwardend thereof. Extending from the bar 82 is a pawl 89 engaging a ratchet91 mounted at the top of the shaft 86 to cause winding of the ribbon 87from the shaft 88 to the shaft 86.

Referring now to FIG. 7, it can be particularly seen here that the slots14 and are provided with sloping surfaces 92 and 93, respectively, whichassist in leading a time card downwardly into the narrow slot. It can beseen in this view how the divider wall 21 serves to define the two slotsleading down through the entrance abutment 13 into the interior of themechanism. This figure of the drawings shows the rivets 94 and 95 bywhich the latching bar 73 is pivotally attached to the frame. The finger75 is shown folded around the wall through the opening 76 and the pawl89 is shown engaging the ratchet 91. A small locking pawl 96 formed ofsheet metal is shown engaging the ratchet 91 also.

FIG. 8 shows the manner in which the latching bar 73 is provided with abarbed end 97 which engages a post 98 provided on the time portion 28.It can be seen that the leg 67 is provided with a tooth 99 which isadapted to fall into the notches or cams in the cam row 72. It can alsobe seen that the hammer plate 66 is provided with striking pads 101 and102 which operate through slots formed in the back wall of the frame,the slots being indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 6 and given thereference numerals 103 and 104.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show the inner and outer side views, respectively, of thetime portion 28 of the recorder. The structure is made up of an upperand a lower plate 105 and 106 held in spaced parallel relationship byposts 107 and 108. Legs 109 and 111 extend downwardly from the plate 106and combine with the extension 52 on the stamp portion 29 to support therecorder on a flat surface when necessary. The output shaft of the motor77 is connected through a coupling 112 to the shaft 35 which, as hasbeen described in connection with FIG. 4, is provided with a gear 36where it extends above the plate 105. This gear operates through thegear 37 on the shaft 38 through the gear 39 and the timing belt 41 todrive the gear 42 and, therefore, the time clock wheels 43. The rotationof the shaft 35 also causes rotation of a gear 113 which drives a gear114 mounted on a vertical shaft 115. This, in turn. drives a gear 116mounted on a shaft 117. A pawl plate 118 is swingably mounted on theshaft 117 and is reciprocated by a cam 119 mounted on the shaft 35. Acam follower 121 transfers the cam motion to the plate 118. This camplate operates a series of pawls which. in turn, operate various wheelsrotatably mounted on the shaft 106; these elements constitute a timestamp 122 of the type shown and described in the US. Pat. of Deane et alNo. 2,355,514 which issued on Aug. 8, 1944. Basi cally, what happens isthat the reciprocatory swinging motion of the plate 118 causes pawls toengage ratchets associated with the time wheels and to move them in sucha way that suitable timing characters appear in a vertical line.Associated with the time stamp 122 is a shaft 123 carrying locking pawlsand a locking bar 124.

As can be seen from an examination of FIGS. 10 and 11, the indicator 32mounted on the shaft 33 is rotatable with that shaft. In the lower partof the shaft is carried a bellcrank 125 having one arm provided with aplastic protective sleeve 126 which engages the rolled up portion of aribbon 87 on the shaft 88 of the stamp portion 29. The other arm ofthebellcrank is connected by a coil spring 127 to a ring 128 surroundingthe shaft 108.

In FIG. 12, it can be seen that the shaft 35 and the gear 113 areconnected by an unusual lost motion device. Two spaced parallel collars129 and 131 are keyed to the shaft 35, while the gear 113 is free torotate on it. A peg 132 is fixed to the gear 113 and extends verticallyupwardly into a peripheral slot 133 (see FIG. 13) formed in the gear113. A similar peg 134 is fixed to a washer 135 which is also rotatablymounted on the shaft 35 and underlies the gear 113, and this peg 134extends vertically upwardly and downwardly from the washer 135. Itextends upwardly through a slot 136 formed in the gear 113 and into anotch 137 formed on the periphery of the collar 131. The washer 135,incidentally, is also formed with a notch 138 through which the pin 132extends to terminate close to the collar 129.

In FIG. 13 it can be seen that the gear 116, which is integral with theseconds wheel 139, is provided with a star wheel 141. Resting on thisstar wheel and on the gear 114 associated with the shaft 115 is a plate142. This plate is provided with elongated apertures 143 and 144 throughwhich the shafts 117 and 115, respectively, extend. These apertures areelongated to allow motion of the plate in a horizontal plane in adirection of a line joining the shafts 117 and 115. The forward edge ofthe plate 142 is provided with a notch 145 (see FIG. 9) which is adaptedto engage the finger 85 on the bar 83 (see FIG. 6) when the time portion28 and the stamp portion 29 are in closed locked condition. To theunderside of the plate 142 is attached a pointed cam 146 which isadapted to engage the star wheel 149 when the plate 142 is moved to theright in FIG. 14. This is for the purpose of aligning the characters onthe seconds wheel 139 so that they are exactly in line with thecorresponding characters in the time stamp 122. Finally, surrounding theshaft 35 is a spring 147 which is coiled around the shaft and has onearm which engages the pin 134 to thrust it in one direction and anotherarm which engages the pin 132 to thrust it in the other direction. Inthe position of "RI-1ST, the spring 147 presses the pin 134 to the farside of the notch 137 in the collar 131 and to the far side of the notch138 in the washer 135. The pin 134 is fixed to the washer 135, extendsthrough the slot 136 in the gear 113 into the notch 137 in the collar131. Its lower end also resides adjacent the collar 129. As can be seenin FIG. 14, when the operator presses the handle 16 to stamp a timecard, the cam 146 engages the teeth on the star wheel 141 and thisaligns a character 148 with the rest of the characters on the time stamp122 for the stamping operation. When the handle 16 is released, however,the energy stored in the spring 147 drives back in the manner shown inFIG. and returns the star wheel and the seconds wheel 139 to itsoriginal condition be fore the stamping operation started, so that notime is lost. In other words, the mechanism represented by the collar129, the washer 135, the gear 113, and the collar 13] operating with thespring 147, the pins 132 and 134, and the various notches and slotsprovide a lost motion device which allows the seconds wheel 139 to bemoved in either direction to line up its closest character to thecorrect position and then will return the seconds wheel to the conditionit would have occupied if this compensating motion had not taken place.

Referring now to FIGS. 16 and 17, the shaft 117, as has been stated, isprovided with time wheels, each of which is provided with an integralratchet wheel, the time wheels and ratchet wheels being independentlyrotatable on the shaft 117. A typical ratchet wheel 149 is shownprovided with notches 151 whose leading edge is provided with a radialsurface and whose trailing edge is inclined to a radial line, whichwheel is driven by a pawl 152 having one end pointed to engage thenotches 151 and the other end pivotally connected to a shaft 153 whichis carried with the pawl plate 118 as it swings about the shaft 117. Toprevent the wheel 149 from turning as the pawl 52 is dragged back overits surface on the return swing of the pawl plate 118, there areprovided a series of locking pawls 154 rotatably mounted on a shaft 155.It will be noted that its operative portion has a right angle cut toengage the leading edge of the notch 151 and an inclined portion whichcan engage the inclined trailing surface of the notch 151. Hingedlymounted on the shaft 123 is the lock bar 124 having a vertical edge 156which engages a rightangled notch 157 formed on the locking pawl 154.Extending from the notch 157, the locking pawl 154 is provided with acurved surface 158. The locking pawl 154 is biased toward the wheel 148by a spring 159 connecting an arm on the pawl to the shaft 123. In asimilar way, the locking bar 124 is rotatably biased in the otherdirection by a spring 161 connecting a back edge of the bar to the shaft155. Located beneath the time stamp 122 on the shaft 117 are severalelements associated with the locking bar 124. These include a lockingbar release element 162 which is rotatably mounted on the shaft 117, alatch 163 which is rotatably mounted on a stub shaft 64 extendingupwardly from the bottom of the pawl plate 118, and a cam plate 165which is fixed to the frame by the fact that the shafts 155 and 117 passthrough it. The locking bar 124 is provided with an extension 166 havinga vertical edge 167 which lies in a U-shaped notch 168 formed in therelease element 162. Almost diametrically opposite this notch 168 therelease element 162 is provided with a horn 169 which is engaged onoccasion by a hook 171 formed on the latch 163. The latch 163, as isevident in the drawing, is much thicker than the elements 162 so that itsubtends not only the thickness of the release element 162 but also thatof the cam plate 165, so that the end of its hook 171 rests and slidesalong an inclined surface 172 formed on the plate 165. This sur face hassufficient angularity to the radius extending outwardly from the shaft117 to cause the hook 171 to feed radially outwardly on occasion torelease itself from the horn 169.

The operation of the time recorder 10 will now be readily understood inview of the above description. In order to be operative, the motor 77must be connected electrically and the timers set by hand so that actualtime of day as well as the calendar date appear on the time stamp 122and the seconds wheel 116. The time of day will appear in the window 112because of the time wheels 43 showing through the window. When the timerecorder is used by a telephone operator to time long distance calls,she fills out her time card with the necessary information including thetelephone number of the caller, as well as the telephone number, name,and address of the called station. When the conversation begins, sheinserts the time card in the slot 15 and this stamps the date and timethat the conversation begins. When it terminates, she inserts the samecard in the slot 14 and presses the handle 16 to stamp it with anotherline indicative of the date and time of termination. These dates andtimes are stamped in parallel spaced lines on the card.

The operator notes that the white portion of the indi cator 32 appearsthrough the aperture 19 in the top of the cover 12 indicating that anadequate supply of rib bon is coiled around the shaft 88. This isbecause the bellcrank (FIG. 11) resides in a position to follow the rollon the shaft 88 as its diameter decreases. Eventually, as the size ofthe roll of ribbon decreases, the red part of the indicator appears inthe aperture and the operator knows it is time to change ribbons.

When a card has been placed either in the slot 15 or the slot 14,placing the card in the slot 15 means that a certain printing area onthe card is lined up with one of the slots 103 and 104 behind which isthe pad 101 on the hammer, which is directly lined up with the line ofcharacters on the time stamp 122 and the seconds wheel 139. Placing thecard in the slot 14 means that the card is moved toward the front of themachine and the same line appears at a spaced parallel position on thecard. The same motor 77 that is driving the time stamp 122 and theseconds wheel 139 is also driving the time clock wheels 43 through themedium of the timing belt 41 and associated gearing.

Referring to FIG. 5, it can be seen that the downward pressure of thehandle 15 results in the plunger 25 moving downwardly despite the springbias from the spring 48. This downward movement of the plunger 25 causesthe end of the lever 49 to go down, while causing the end with the pivotpin 54 to go up. This presses the lever 55 upwardly and rotates theplate 57 in a counterclockwise direction. This has the effect of causingthe pawl 59 to engage a ratchet tooth 62 and to rotate the entireratchet wheel and pawl wheel 72 about the shaft 58. This rotates the row72 of cams and (referring to FIG. 8) the tooth 99 rides up the inclinedback edge of one of the cams causing the arm 67 and its correspond ingarm 68 to move away from the back wall of the frame carrying the hammerplate 66 with it. This winds up the spring 71 so that considerableenergy is stored. Eventually, the tooth 99 falls over the straight edgeof the cam and the hammer is thrown forcibly against the back wall ofthe frame. The pads 101 and 102 are thus thrust violently through theslots 103 and 104 and they strike the time card against the ribbon 87and both of them against the time stamp 122 and the seconds wheel 139,thus producing an image on the time card. The leaf spring 72 is veryweak compared to the spring 71 and the normal location of the hammerplate 66 is such that the pads and 102 are rearwardly of the back wallof the frame, so that it is possible to withdraw the time card withoutdifficulty after the stroke of the hammer has taken place.

At the same time that the clockwise rotation of the plate 57 operatedthe hammer plate 66, it also operated by means of the notch 74 and thefinger 75 to thrust the finger 75 to the right in FIG, 5. This producedthe same right-hand motion of the bar 82 in FIG. 6, which had twoeffects. First of all, when the bar is returned, the pawl 89 engages theratchet 91 and causes the shaft 86 to turn incrementally and roll upsome of the ribbon 86, thus presenting a new ribbon surface to thestamping area. At the same time, it carried with it the bar 83 in movingto the right, and thus the finger 85 which engages the notch 145 on theplate 142 (see FIG. 14). This causes aligning up of the characters onthe seconds wheel 139, as will be described more fully hereinafter.

The plate 57 is returned after the tooth 99 drops into the next valleyin the cam row 72 because of the spring 48 urging the plunger into itsupward condition. Also, referring to FIG. 6, the spring 84 maintains thetooth 85 and the bar 83 in the right-hand position on the bar 82 but, ofcourse, the bar 82 is maintained to the righthand position in betweenstriking by the spring 48, as has been described. The motor 77 operatescontinuously and rotates the shaft continuously in the manner that hasbeen described, irrespective of whether the handle 16 is ever depressedor not. It serves to drive the gear 116 and the seconds wheel 139continuously while operating through the cam 119 to operate the pawlplate 118 in a reciprocating swinging manner about the shaft 117, thuscausing its associated pawls to drive the time stamp 122 in thewell-known manner.

Referring to FIGS. 12, 13, 14, and 15, at the time the striking takesplace, the finger 85 on the bight 83 en gages the notch 145 on the plate142 and thrusts it to the right The cam 146 engages the star wheel 141and centers the star wheel and also places a character 148 in line withthe characters on the rest of the time stamp. This is necessary to givea clear image on the time card, so that the time card can be read byoptical scanning means. it not only assures that a single character andnot parts of two characters is printed, but also that the character isdirected directly along the line of stampings so that a clear image isproduced. The moving of the star wheel 141 and the seconds wheel 139also causes backward or forward rotation of the gear 116 which isassociated with them. This works back through the gear 114 to rotate thegear 113. At the same time that the gear 113 is being rotated, perhapsin a direction contrary to the normal direction that is driven by themotor 77, the motor continues to drive the shaft 35, so that the pins132 and 134 operate with the spring 147 to allow for this movement.After the movement has taken place, the spring restores the gear 113 toits former position plus a small time increment and this works backthrough the gear 114 and the gear 116 to return the seconds wheel 139 tothe position that it would have occupied if striking had not takenplace. This is due to the fact that the spring 147 acts to center andrestore to a given position the collars 131 and 129 as well as the gear113 and the washer 135.

FIG. 14 shows the situation that exists when the cam 146 moves the starwheel in an advanced condition, in which case it is returned backwardlylater, while FIG. 15 shows what happens when the cam 146 attracts thestar wheel (counter-clockwise rotation) and returns it again to itsformer position.

In FIGS. 16 and 17, is illustrated the manner in which the wheels 149 ofthe time stamp 122 are locked between thrusts from the pawls 152. Itwill be understood that, with the type of time stamp used, only one pawlof the series of pawls is actually operating on a wheel at any giventime, so that, if all of the locking pawls 154 were released in order toallow the pawls 152 to oper ate, all but one of the wheels would beloose on the shaft and could vibrate to wrong positions. For thatreason, although the locking bar 124 is released from the pawls,nevertheless, it will be understood that only one of the locking pawls154 will be moving outwardly.

As the pawl plate 118 swings about the shaft 117, it carries the shaft153 with it, and this carries the pawl 152 in a thrusting positioncircumferentially of the wheel 149 until it engages a notch and producesan incremental rotation of the wheel 149. Swinging of the pawl plate 118also carries with it the latch 163 whose hook 171 engages the horn 169on the release element 162. The release element, therefore, rotatesabout the shaft 117 and, eventually, swings to a position where thelatch bar 124 swings free of the notch 157 and the lock pawl 154. Thisallows the lock pawl to swing outwardly away from the ratchet wheel 149and free and slide along the land between the notches 151. This is insynchronization with the movement of the pawl 152 so that, as the pawlengages a notch 151 to rotate the ratchet wheel 149, the locking pawl154 is allowed to slide up out of the notch in which it resides. Asrotation takes place. the lower end of the hook 171 which is slidingalong the surface 172 of the cam plate begins to move radially outwardlyuntil it is free of the horn 169. Since the release element 162 is freeto rotate about the shaft 117, the spring 161 acts on the locking bar124 to rotate it back again carrying the element 162 with it. The edge156 of the locking bar slides along the surface 158 and, eventually,snaps into the notch 157 on the locking pawl and locks it in place sothat it cant move until the next cycle. This guarantees that the lockingpawl 154 does not sit on a land between notches on the ratchet wheel 149which would allow the ratchet wheel to move clue to vibration and so on.It also prevents plural tooth jumping which takes place under somecircumstances. It means that the lock bar 124 prevents the reverseturning of the wheel 149 due to the back drag of the pawl 152 whileusing only a light spring 159 on the locking pawl 154. If a strongspring were necessary to guarantee that the locking pawl did not operatewrongly, a much larger drive motor would be necessary and the size ofthe recorder would be much greater. All of this mechanism is, of course,to prevent the characters in the time stamp 122 from moving and itprevents plural teeth jumping and it prevents any locking pawl fromending up on a land between notches. lf only one of the pawls 154 did soend up on a land, it would keep the locking bar 124 from locking all ofthe wheels and they would all be free to rotate until the jammedcondition was remedied. The characters would be out of line and the timeindicated would be wrong. The present operation prevents this by apositive locking of the locking bar.

It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the form andconstruction of the invention without departing from the material spiritthereof. lt is not, however. desired to confine the invention to theexact form herein shown and described. but it is desired to include allsuch as properly come within the scope claimed.

The invention having been thus described. what is claimed as new anddesired to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A time recorder comprising a housing.

. a time stamp shaft mounted in the housing,

. a plurality of time wheels mounted on the shaft.

an electric motor mounted on the frame.

. a pawl mechanism driven by the motor and operative through pawlsengaging ratchet wheels to index the wheels.

f. a locking pawl engaging a ratchet on each wheel.

g. a locking bar engaging a surface on each locking pawl to preventmovement of the wheels except when a pawl engages a ratchet forincremental motion. and

h. a release element mounted on the shaft and engageable with thelocking bar, the release element being rotated about the shaft with thepawl mecha' nism and having a notch that envelopes an edge of thelocking bar and carries it away from the surface of the locking pawlduring rotation.

2. A time recorder as recited in claim 1, wherein the release elementhas a horn which is engaged by a hook element rotatably carried on thepawl mechanism. and wherein a cam plate is located adjacent the releaseele ment and the hook element and having an inclined surface engaged bythe hook element to move it out of engagement with the horn as therotation of the release element advances.

3. A time recorder as recited in claim 2, wherein a light spring isconnected to bias the locking pawls into engagement with their wheels,and wherein a heavy spring is used to bias the locking bar intoengagement with the locking pawl surfaces.

4. A time recorder. comprising a. a housing having an entrance intowhich a time card can be introduced. the housing consisting of a timeportion and a stamp portion. each portion being generally elongated, theportions being hingedly connected at one end,

b. a latch mechanism at the other ends of the portions of the housing tohold the portions together with the time stamp. the plane of the card.and the striking hammer in closely adjacent relationship,

c. a time stamp shaft located in the housing in the time portion at oneside of the plane of the card,

d. a striking hammer located on the other side of the plane of the card.the entrance consisting of two parallel slots. each of such a length asto exactly receive the card. the slots being non-coextensive by asubstantial amount. so that. when the card is introduced into one slot.a first position on the card lies beside the time stamp and, when thecard is introduced into the other slot, a second position on the cardlies beside the time stamp,

e. a plurality of time wheels mounted on the shaft.

f. an electric motor mounted on the frame.

g. a pawl mechanism operated by the motor and operative to index thewheels.

h. an additional wheel having a plurality of characters formed on itsperiphery mounted on the shaft and continuously driven by the motor.

j. means to bring the closest character on the additional wheel to aprinting position for printing in alignment with characters on the otherwheels. the means being operative after printing to return theadditional wheel to the position it would have occupied if printing hadnot taken place.

k. a locking pawl engaging a ratchet on each wheel,

I. a locking bar engaging a surface on each locking pawl to preventmovement of the wheels except when a pawl engages a ratchet forincremental motion. and

m. a release element mounted on the shaft and engageable with thelocking bar. the release element being rotated about the shaft with thepawl mechanism and having a notch that envelopes an edge of the lockingbar and carries it away from the surface of the locking pawl duringrotation.

S. A time recorder. comprising a. a housing having an entrance intowhich a time card can be introduced.

b. a time stamp shaft located in the housing at one side of the plane ofthe card,

c. a striking hammer located on the other side of the plane of the card.the entrance consisting of two parallel slots, each of such a length asto exactly receive the card, the slots being non-coextensive by asubstantial amount, so that, when the card is introduced into one slot,21 first position on the card lies beside the time stamp and. when thecard is introduced into the other slot, a second position on the cardlies beside the time stamp,

d. a plurality of time wheels mounted on the shaft,

e. an electric motor mounted on the frame,

f. a pawl mechanism operated by the motor and operative to index thewheels,

g. an additional wheel having a plurality of characters formed on itsperiphery mounted on the shaft and continuously driven by the motor.

b. means to bring the closest character on the additional wheel to aprinting position for printing in alignment with characters on the otherwheels, the means being operative after printing to return theadditional wheel to the position it would have oc cupied if printing hadnot taken place.

i. a locking pawl engaging a ratchet on each wheel,

j. a locking bar engaging a surface on each locking pawl to preventmovement of the wheels except when a pawl engages a ratchet forincremental motion, and

k. a release element mounted on the shaft and engageable with thelocking bar, the release element being rotated about the shaft with thepawl mecha nism and having a notch that envelopes an edge of the lockingbar and carries it away from the surface of the locking pawl duringrotation.

6. A time recorder. comprising a. a housing, the housing having anentrance into which a time card can be introduced, the housingconsisting of a time portion and a stamp portion.

each portion being generally elongated. the portions being hingedlyconnected at one end,

b. a time stamp shaft mounted in the housing. the time stamp located inthe time portion at one side of the plane of the card,

c. a plurality of time wheels mounted on the shaft,

d. an electric motor mounted on the frame,

e. a pawl mechanism operated by the motor and operative to index thewheels,

f. an additional wheel having a plurality of characters formed on itsperiphery mounted on the shaft and continuously driven by the motor,

g. means to bring the closest character on the additional wheel to aprinting position for printing in alignment with characters on the otherwheels, the means being operative after printing to return theadditional wheel to the position it would have occupied if printing hadnot taken place,

h. a locking pawl engaging a ratchet on each wheel,

i. a locking bar engaging a surface on each locking pawl to preventmovement of the wheels except when a pawl engages a ratchet forincremental motion, and

j. a release element mounted on the shaft and engageable with thelocking bar, the release element being rotated about the shaft with thepawl mechanism and having a notch that envelopes an edge of the lockingbar and carries it away from the surface of the locking pawl duringrotation,

k a striking hammer located in the time portion on the other side of theplane of the card,

l. a latch mechanism at the other ends of the portions of the housing tohold the portions together with the time stamp, the plane of the card,and the striking hammer in closely adjacent relationship.

7. A time recorder, comprising a. a housing having an entrance intowhich a time card can be introduced, the housing consisting of a timeportion and a stamp portion, each portion being generally elongated, theportions being hingedly connected at one end,

b. a time stamp shaft located in the time portion at one side of theplane of the card,

c. a striking hammer located in the time portion on the other side ofthe plane of the card, the entrance consisting of two parallel slots,each of such a length as to exactly receive the card, the slots beingnon-coextensive by a substantial amount, so that, when the card isintroduced into one slot, a first position on the card lies beside thetime stamp and, when the card is introduced into the other slot, a

second position on the card lies beside the time stamp,

d. a latch mechanism at the other ends ofthe portions of the housing tohold the portions together with the time stamp, the plane of the card,and the striking hammer in closely adjacent relationship,

e. a plurality of time wheels mounted on the shaft,

f. an electric motor mounted on the frame,

g. a pawl mechanism driven by the motor and opera tive through pawlsengaging ratchet wheels to index the wheels,

h. a locking pawl engaging a ratchet on each wheel,

i. a locking bar engaging a surface on each locking pawl to preventmovement of the wheels except when a pawl engages a ratchet forincremental motion, and

j. a release element mounted on the shaft and engageable with thelocking bar, the release element being rotated about the shaft with thepawl mechanism and having a notch that envelopes an edge of the lockingbar and carries it away from the surface of the locking pawl duringrotation.

8. A time recorder, comprising a. a housing,

b. a time stamp shaft mounted in the housing,

c. a plurality of time wheels mounted on the shaft.

d. an electric motor mounted on the frame,

e. a pawl mechanism driven by the motor and operative through pawlsengaging ratchet wheels to index the wheels,

f. an additional wheel having a plurality of characters formed on itsperiphery mounted on the shaft and continuously driven by the motor.

g. means to bring the closest character on the additional wheel to aprinting position for printing in alignment with characters on the otherwheels, the means being operative after printing to return theadditional wheel to the position it would have oc cupied if printing hadnot taken place,

h. a locking pawl engaging a ratchet on each wheel,

i. a locking bar engaging a surface on each locking pawl to preventmovement of the wheels except when a pawl engages a ratchet forincremental motion, and

j. a release element mounted on the shaft and engageable with thelocking bar, the release element being rotated about the shaft with thepawl mechanism and having a notch that envelopes an edge of the lockingbar and carries it away from the surface of the locking pawl duringrotation.

1. A time recorder comprising a. a housing, b. a time stamp shaftmounted in the housing, c. a plurality of time wheels mounted on theshaft, d. an electric motor mounted on the frame, e. a pawl mechanismdriven by the motor and operative through pawls engaging ratchet wheelsto index the wheels, f. a locking pawl engaging a ratchet on each wheel,g. a locking bar engaging a surface on each locking pawl to preventmovement of the wheels except when a pawl engages a ratchet forincremental motion, and h. a release element mounted on the shaft andengageable with the locking bar, the release element being rotated aboutthe shaft with the pawl mechanism and having a notch that envelopes anedge of the locking bar and carries it away from the surface of thelocking pawl during rotation.
 2. A time recorder as recited in claim 1,wherein the release element has a horn which is engaged by a hookelement rotatably carried on the pawl mechanism, and wherein a cam plateis located adjacent the release element and the hook element and havingan inclined surface engaged by the hook element to move it out ofengagement with the horn as the rotation of the release elementadvances.
 3. A time recorder as recited in claim 2, wherein a lightspring is connected to bias the locking pawls into engagement with theirwheels, and wherein a heavy spring is used to bias the locking bar intoengagement with the locking pawl surfaces.
 4. A time recorder,comprising a. a housing having an entrance into which a time card can beintroduced, the housing consisting of a time portion and a stampportion, each portion being generally elongated, the portions beinghingedly connected at one end, b. a latch mechanism at the other ends ofthe portions of the housing to hold the portions together with the timestamp, the plane of the card, and the striking hammer in closelyadjacent relationship, c. a time stamp shaft located in the housing inthe time portion at one side of the plane of the card, d. a strikinghammer located on the other side of the plane of the card, the entranceconsisting of two parallel slots, each of such a length as to exactlyreceive the card, the slots being non-coextensive by a substantialamount, so that, when the card is introduced into one slot, a firstposition on the card lies beside the time stamp and, when the card isintroduced into the other slot, a second position on the card liesbeside the time stamp, e. a plurality of time wheels mounted on theshaft, f. an electric motor mounted on the frame, g. a pawl mechanismoperated by the motor and operative to index the wheels, h. anadditional wheel having a plurality of characters formed on itsperiphery mounted on the shaft and continuously driven by the motor, j.means to bring the closest character on the additional wheel to aprinting position for printing in alignment with characters on the otherwheels, the means being operative after printing to return theadditional wheel to the position it would have occupied if printing hadnot taken place, k. a locking pawl engaging a ratchet on each wheel, l.a locking bar engaging a surface on each locking pawl to preventmovement of the wheels except when a pawl engages a ratchet forincremental motion, and m. a release element mounted on the shaft andengageable with the locking bar, the release element being rotated aboutthe shaft with the pawl mechanism and hAving a notch that envelopes anedge of the locking bar and carries it away from the surface of thelocking pawl during rotation.
 5. A time recorder, comprising a. ahousing having an entrance into which a time card can be introduced, b.a time stamp shaft located in the housing at one side of the plane ofthe card, c. a striking hammer located on the other side of the plane ofthe card, the entrance consisting of two parallel slots, each of such alength as to exactly receive the card, the slots being non-coextensiveby a substantial amount, so that, when the card is introduced into oneslot, a first position on the card lies beside the time stamp and, whenthe card is introduced into the other slot, a second position on thecard lies beside the time stamp, d. a plurality of time wheels mountedon the shaft, e. an electric motor mounted on the frame, f. a pawlmechanism operated by the motor and operative to index the wheels, g. anadditional wheel having a plurality of characters formed on itsperiphery mounted on the shaft and continuously driven by the motor, h.means to bring the closest character on the additional wheel to aprinting position for printing in alignment with characters on the otherwheels, the means being operative after printing to return theadditional wheel to the position it would have occupied if printing hadnot taken place, i. a locking pawl engaging a ratchet on each wheel, j.a locking bar engaging a surface on each locking pawl to preventmovement of the wheels except when a pawl engages a ratchet forincremental motion, and k. a release element mounted on the shaft andengageable with the locking bar, the release element being rotated aboutthe shaft with the pawl mechanism and having a notch that envelopes anedge of the locking bar and carries it away from the surface of thelocking pawl during rotation.
 6. A time recorder, comprising a. ahousing, the housing having an entrance into which a time card can beintroduced, the housing consisting of a time portion and a stampportion, each portion being generally elongated, the portions beinghingedly connected at one end, b. a time stamp shaft mounted in thehousing, the time stamp located in the time portion at one side of theplane of the card, c. a plurality of time wheels mounted on the shaft,d. an electric motor mounted on the frame, e. a pawl mechanism operatedby the motor and operative to index the wheels, f. an additional wheelhaving a plurality of characters formed on its periphery mounted on theshaft and continuously driven by the motor, g. means to bring theclosest character on the additional wheel to a printing position forprinting in alignment with characters on the other wheels, the meansbeing operative after printing to return the additional wheel to theposition it would have occupied if printing had not taken place, h. alocking pawl engaging a ratchet on each wheel, i. a locking bar engaginga surface on each locking pawl to prevent movement of the wheels exceptwhen a pawl engages a ratchet for incremental motion, and j. a releaseelement mounted on the shaft and engageable with the locking bar, therelease element being rotated about the shaft with the pawl mechanismand having a notch that envelopes an edge of the locking bar and carriesit away from the surface of the locking pawl during rotation, k. astriking hammer located in the time portion on the other side of theplane of the card, l. a latch mechanism at the other ends of theportions of the housing to hold the portions together with the timestamp, the plane of the card, and the striking hammer in closelyadjacent relationship.
 7. A time recorder, comprising a. a housinghaving an entrance into which a time card can be introduced, the housingconsisting of a time portion and a stamp portion, each portion beinggenerally elongated, the portions being hingedly connected at oNe end,b. a time stamp shaft located in the time portion at one side of theplane of the card, c. a striking hammer located in the time portion onthe other side of the plane of the card, the entrance consisting of twoparallel slots, each of such a length as to exactly receive the card,the slots being non-coextensive by a substantial amount, so that, whenthe card is introduced into one slot, a first position on the card liesbeside the time stamp and, when the card is introduced into the otherslot, a second position on the card lies beside the time stamp, d. alatch mechanism at the other ends of the portions of the housing to holdthe portions together with the time stamp, the plane of the card, andthe striking hammer in closely adjacent relationship, e. a plurality oftime wheels mounted on the shaft, f. an electric motor mounted on theframe, g. a pawl mechanism driven by the motor and operative throughpawls engaging ratchet wheels to index the wheels, h. a locking pawlengaging a ratchet on each wheel, i. a locking bar engaging a surface oneach locking pawl to prevent movement of the wheels except when a pawlengages a ratchet for incremental motion, and j. a release elementmounted on the shaft and engageable with the locking bar, the releaseelement being rotated about the shaft with the pawl mechanism and havinga notch that envelopes an edge of the locking bar and carries it awayfrom the surface of the locking pawl during rotation.
 8. A timerecorder, comprising a. a housing, b. a time stamp shaft mounted in thehousing, c. a plurality of time wheels mounted on the shaft, d. anelectric motor mounted on the frame, e. a pawl mechanism driven by themotor and operative through pawls engaging ratchet wheels to index thewheels, f. an additional wheel having a plurality of characters formedon its periphery mounted on the shaft and continuously driven by themotor, g. means to bring the closest character on the additional wheelto a printing position for printing in alignment with characters on theother wheels, the means being operative after printing to return theadditional wheel to the position it would have occupied if printing hadnot taken place, h. a locking pawl engaging a ratchet on each wheel, i.a locking bar engaging a surface on each locking pawl to preventmovement of the wheels except when a pawl engages a ratchet forincremental motion, and j. a release element mounted on the shaft andengageable with the locking bar, the release element being rotated aboutthe shaft with the pawl mechanism and having a notch that envelopes anedge of the locking bar and carries it away from the surface of thelocking pawl during rotation.